The Samara branch of OJSC VolgaTelecom (previously known as OJSC Svyazinform Samara Region), hereby announces that the company will be launching per-minute billing in test mode for local traffic in Samara as of January 1, 2003. 

In accordance with the Rules for Rendering Telephone Services (approved under RF Resolution No. 1235 dated September 26, 1997) the test mode for local per-minute telephone billing shall last for no less than three months.

Test bills sent to subscribers of the Samara branch of OJSC VolgaTelecom will include information on the duration of local calls made during the month and the cost thereof.  There is no charge for providing this test billing information.

The Board of Management of the Anti-Monopoly Ministry of the Russian Federation approved under Decision No. 18/05-3 dated November 13, 2002 the following tariffs for local calls made under the per-minute billing system:

Monthly subscriber fee for use of telephone -

-          RUR 63 for households per main line;

-          RUR 50 40 kopecks for households using party or parallel lines;

-          RUR 74 (not including VAT).

Cost of 1-minute call:

-          from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. = 10.5 kopecks (household tariff), 10 kopecks (for business organizations not including VAT);

-          from midnight until 8 o'clock a.m. = 7.35 kopecks (household tariff), 7 kopecks (for business organizations not including VAT).

There will be a charge only for outgoing calls.

Calls made to emergency service numbers 09, 004, 005, 007 will be free of charge